Transmission of power



H. H. VUGHAN.

TRANSMISSION 0F POWER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 9, Isazo.

1 ,409, 3 1 9. Patented Mar. 14, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

sa so I I ad Fig" a Alti- Henry VWM/76W,

5 /n Verl/Oli H'. HLVAUGHAN.

TRANSMISSION 0F POWER. APPLICATION FILED APR. 9, 1920.

Panted Mar. 14, 1922.

msg-z.

naires stares HENRY EvaneiiiiN, or ivioNTaEAneUEBno, canapa,

TRANSMISSION `QF POWER.; 1

f Application 'inea April 9,

To all collana-ift may concern.' e

Beit known that l, HENRY Hl VAUGHAN, a subjectof the'King of resident of the city of Montreal, in the Province of Quebec and Dominion of Canada, have invented 'certainnewl and useful Improvements in the Transmission of Power; and I do hereby declare that the followingr is a' full, cleaigand exact'description thereof..

My invention relates particularly to the transmission of power from'the shaft of a steam turbine or shafts of a number of steam turbines (high and low and intermediate pressures) to a. final shaft through the medium of intermeshing gearsyandmore particularly to the transmission of the torque of the turbine-shaft. or` yshafts equally through-a multiple transn'iissiongear such as, for instance, a central driven gear vwheel rigidly vmounted on the final shaft and setsA or' Avdistinct trains of' gears terminating in pinions' disposedaronnd the' circumference of the wheel and intermeshing with it.) il hen spur gearing-is used and the'reductionl made lby Vone pairi ofgears the entire power is transmitted tothe final gear ata single. point of mesh.' 'If compound gearing is used it is customary to use .not more than two or three intermediate shafts each of which-have gears meshing' with 'the initial pinion and gears meshingl with the final -vgearp rThe power is therefore taken from the initial pinion and delivered tothe final gear at one, two or three points but'no adequate method has been found of equalizing the loads at the different points of mesh which does not iiivolve movement of shafts'transversely vto their axes of rotation and therefore does not permit mounting the transmission on a rigid support. Even` if 4satisfactory means of equalizing were r foundthe Vpower transmitted at each-point'of-mesh is such as to require gears of broad face, while to secure the desired reductionfwithout usingexcessively large gears, andto keep the pitch line speed within reasonable limits, small `pinions are necessary which due to lack of torsionalrigidity are subjectto-torsional deflection re-l sulting in an unequal distribution of pressure over the face of teeth-and largely7 offsettingthe advantage gained by using broad face gears. This effectis most marked on the initial pinion and is only partially corrected by using multiple counter shafts as Great Britain, and

specification of Letters Patent. `4' Patented jim-121Bj Y 1.1520.-l seriai itin-372,573.L` -g the torque tov which it Vis `Subj ected 'I remains kthe same.

In the preferred `,form of my invent-ion rara-Nr figo-rsiCfiE,`

these objectionable f eaturesarelargely `re 'y vmoved ;-`lirst by 'i delivering the' power Yto the final gear equally at la; larger nufmber; of points; second by taking the power from the initial shaft equally at al multiplicityk of points and; third* by .substituting-Worms for ,-power from a turbine:orotheridriving shaft VVtofa :driven 'shaft, the equalizers being adapt- .ed7 when resistedhy i one or more engaging pinions.- The-ratio of speed between the f i.`

trains; toaccelerateitheinovement ofalll lagl ging trains until engagement offall trains is effectedfflfihen morei'thanone turbine ancl-v H'consequently 4more than one driving-shaft 9 'f is employed a. separate set'of equalized trainsV will be vremployed for each driving shaft. For full comprehension;however, of mA `invention reference mustbehad to the accompanying drawings in. which similar ref-:1

erencev characters indicate the same parts', and wherein:

Figure l'is a plan View o-fa transmission Y mechanism containingfmy invent-ion ;l

Figure Qi's a. vertical sectional view taken f on line Q QzFigure :1; Y, n Y

Figures 4 and 5 are detail views Vof the 'f equalizer elements forming a part of my im proved transmission.

ln' the 'drawings Vhigh and flow power steam turbines 2 and 2@ on Yseparate parallel shafts Sand 3a respectively;andl ashaft 4f :designed tobedriven thereby,- such as a. propeller shaft for example are eacliaopen at'ively connected1 byran intermediateduplex i worm-gear power-transmissionl equalizer mechanism. Each vequalizer in the. pre-UV ferred embodiment "of myinvention consists of two pairs of vaxially*arranged worms, each pairA having-its members' rigidly con-Y nected together-and bothV pairs being slidably mounted uponone of the turbine shafts but not keyed to it. Separate trains of gears each including aworm-wheel 8a, 8b, 8?,

v8d operatively connectthe worms, with which the respective worm-wheels engage to a rela tively large gear-wheel 5 which 1s engaged by the trains at different angular positions around the periphery ofV such gear wheel. This gear wheel is rigidly mounted on Athe propeller shaft or other shaft to be driven,

`and the trains are preferably formed by mounting the worm-wheels on the ends of transverse shafts 6 each rigidly carrying a pinion 7, 712.76, 7d adapted to engage the gear wheel, the relative diameters being such thatSaSb 8c 8d to be original with me, the action Vof which may ybe described asvk follows:

-ollars 20 and l-'arerotatably'fixed to shaft 3 -longitudinally fixed in relation toV each other, longitudinally movable'in relation to nuts 15 and 16, and having threads f accurately cut on their surfaces, thethreads of 20 being opposite hand to those of 21 but of the same pitch. Nuts 15 and 16 Vare mountedY upon collars 20 vand 21 respectively; rotatable in relation thereto to shaft 3 and to each other; longitudinally fixed in relation to each other but longitudinally movable in relation to everything else and rotatably fixed to shafts '30 and 31- respectively. i i

Suppose shafts 3 to be rotated carrying with it collars 20 and'21, and rotation of nuts 15 and 16 to be resisted. Torque can be transmitted to nut l5 by the threads of collar 2() only, and to rnut 16 by the threads of collar 21 only. Forces will be developed tending tormove 15 longitudinally with respect to 2O, and 16V `with respect to 21, but these tendencies will be in opposite directions and directly proportional to the respective torques. As .longitudinal movement 'of either nut can be resisted only by an opposite tendency ofthe other there will be longitudinal movement unless the torques are equal. If lthere is longitudinal vmovement of nuts 15 and 16 relatively'to'collars 2O and 21, a-corresponding relative rotation of the nuts and their respective. collars will take'place but these'relative rotations will be in opposite directions so that if either nut lags due to a greater resistance the other will Vbe accelerated an equal amount. Since both nuts are connected to the final gear 5 by positive gearing of the same ratio, the ac-KV celeration of either nut can continue only so long as may be suflicient to overcome any backlash which may exist in the gearing as the accelerated nut will then meet with a Y greater resistance developing a tendency to longitudinal movement suicient to balance the opposing tendency ofthe other nut.

Having thus obtained an equal division of the torque of shaft 8 between shafts 30 and 31 a further equal division of the torque transmitted to shaft 30 between worms 90 and 100 is obtained as follows:

Worms 90 and 100 are of equal pitch but of opposite hand, rotatably and longitudinally' fixed to shaft 30. Shaft 30 .is rotatably fixed to nut 20 but longitudinally free with respect to everything else except worms and 100. Worm y90 engages worm Wheel 8a and worm 100 engages worm wheel 8b, ar

necessary condition being that the wheels are on opposite sides of the shaft. Worm wheels 8a and 8b are connected with final gear 5 by positive gearing of such proportions that the pitchV line speeds ofthe worm wheels are equal, and their directions of rotation are the same. y 1f VVshaft 80' is .rotated and rotation of*y *either worm wheel, as 8?, is resisted while rotation of the othervworni wheel is resisted 4to a lesser extent, or not at all, a longitudinal movement of worms 90 and 100 will take place whichV with the rotation of lshaft 30 will impart to worm wheel 8b a, greater movement than would have been imparted the pitch line speeds of the worm wheels can be unequal onlywhile taking up an)1 backlash which may exist.

ln a similar manner ythe power delivered to worm wheels -8c and 8dis equalized. It is not necessary that worms 9 and 10 be of the same-pitch as worms 90 and 100 but only .i

that vthe pitch of 9 be equal'but opposite hand tothe pitchwof 10 and such that the Yspeed of shaft .31, relatively to ge'ar-` 5, isV

the sameas the speed of shaft 30.

Y Obviously many variations and extensions of the principles above described may be made. Forinstanee if'it is desired tov employ only two trains of gears between the initial shaft and final shaft one pair 'of worms only may be used as 90 and 10() in which case shaftBO would be directly connected to the turbineshaft insuch a way Vthe inal shaft through spur gearing. VAgain if it isdesired to use a largerfnumberyof intermediate trains of `gears four trains might be drivenfrom each of shafts 30 and 31 in the same manneras described for driving four trains from shaft 3, in whichcase there would be a total of eight trains. If the parts 20, 21, 15 and 16 were made as described except that the pitch of threads on 2U were n times the pitch of threads on 21, the torque transmitted to l5 by 2O would be a times the torque transmitted to 16 by 21; if n were 2, of the torque of shaft 3 would be transmitted to shaft 30 and 2; to shaft 31, so that if four worms were driven from shaftI 30 and two from shaft 31, the torques beingequalized in'each case by methods above described, we should have an equal division of the torque of shaft 3 between six trains of gears.

IVhat I claim is as follows; .c

1. In power transmission the combination with a driven means, of multiple driving means, each driving means being separately` rotatablyconnected to said driven means and an axially movable fequalicz-ireffectinghany operative connection between" the individual driving means and adaptedto automatically maintain an equal distributionsfof lpower through the individual driving means to the driven means. Y t

2. In power transmission, thefcombination with a shaft, a second shaft, trains of gears each having one end rotatively*V connected to the second shaft, of a self-acting power transmission equalizer consisting of a mul-V tiple partmechanism carried by the first shaft and rotatively connecting thesameto the trains and comprising a part rigidly connected to the first shaft, aplurality of parts movable relatively to the last-mentioned part and rotatively connected to the trains, and means whereby lost motion in one of the trains causes axial movement of some of the said movable parts and the lost motion to be taken up for the purpose of uniformly transmittingV the rotative power of the first shaft to different points with respect to the second shaft.

3. In power transmission the combination with a shaft, a second shaft, a gear. wheel mounted upon the second shaft, a multiple train of gears rotatively connected at one end in different angular positions to the said gear wheel, of an automatic power transmission equalizer consisting of a multiple partl mechanism carried by the first shaft and rotatively connecting the same to the trains and comprising a part rigidly connected to the first shaft, a plurality of parts movable -relatively to the last-mentioned partand rotativelyaconnected to the trains, and means whereby lost motion =in one of the trains causes axial movement of some of the said movable parts and the lost motion A-toA be taken up forthe purpose of uniformly transV- mitting therotative lpower Vof the engine shaft, to differentpoints Vwith respectto' the second shaft.v Y i n 1.,- 4.1* In power transmission the combination with -a driving means,-a driveny means, andk vmultiple trains for transmitting power from the driving meansv to the driven' means, of av power transmission equalizer rotatively connecting the driving-means to the trains` and consisting of a pair of axially arranged worms rotatable with the driving means andvv slidable axially `in unison, said equalizer ber ing constructed and arranged to be actuated by the resultant of lost motion in one'of the trains causing the axial movement vofthe worms and the lost motion to be takenup for the purpose ofun'iformly transmitting the rotative power of the driving means through the lmultiple power transmitting trains to the driven means.

.5. In power transmission the combination with driving shaft, a driven shaft and multiple power.: transmitting; trains,- of a self-acting power transmission equalizer 'consisting of a multiple part mechanism Acar-A ried jby'the. driving shaft and rotatively 'con-.

nectii'rgtheV same tothe trains andacomprising a pairy of'spaced screwethreaded.integral Y collars onthe driving shaft, a-'pairof nuts? screwed towards' each other-'upon 4the .collars and. into bearing relation, '-meansvwhei'eby rotative axial sepYarat-ionfof the nuts'/ispre'-v ventedv `andi relative `1rotation is permitted, worms rotatively carried upon the shaft'at opposite 'sides of the equalizer, worm wheels intermeshing with the worms and rotatively connected to the respective power transmitting trains and means-for rigidly connecting the nuts tothe worms for the purpose of uniformly transmitting the rotative power of the driving shaft through Vthe multiplepower transmitting gears to the drivenV shaft. 6. In power transmission thecombination with a driving shaft, a Vdriven shaftjand multiple power transmitting trains, of a selfacting power transmission.equalizer consist-Lk ing of a multiple part mechanism carried by the driving shaft'androtatively connecting the same tothe trains an'd'compri'singa pair of spaced screw-threadedrcollars integrally on the shaft, a pair of nuts screwed towards each other uponv the collars and, into bearing relation, kmeans whereby relative axial sep#v aration of the nuts is prevented and relativeV rotation is permitted,worms rotatably carried upon the driving shaft atl opposite sides of the equalizer, worm wheels intermeshing with the worms and rotatively connected tot the respective power transmitting trains and 130 .Y

p' separate sleeves rigidly connecting the nuts tothe worms, for the purpose of vuniformly .transmitting the rotative power o f the driving shaftthrough. the multiple powertransinitting gears to the driven shaft.

7.V ln power transmission the rcombination with a driving shaft, a driven shaft and. multiple power transmitting trains, of a selfacting power transmission equalizer consisting of a multiple part 'mechanism carried by the driving `shaft and rotatively connecting the same to the trains and comprising a pair of spaced screw-threaded collars integrally on the driving shaft, a pair of nuts screwed towards each other upon the collars and into bearing relation, means preventing relative operation of the nuts and permitting of relative rotation thereof, such means consisting of radial icircumferential lianges upon the adjacent ends f of the nuts and an inwardly flanged annular rim enclosingI the flanges, worms rotatably carried upon they driving shaft at opposite sides ofthe equalizer, the worms at each side of the equalizer being rigidly connected together, worm-wheels intermeshing with the worms'and rotatively connected to the respective power transmitting trains, and separate sleeves rotatively and slidably connectingthe nuts to the worms, for the purpose of uniformly transmitting the rotative l power of the shaft Vthrough `the multiple power transmitting trains to an objectto be rotated( f withl a' shaft having a. gear wheel mounted rigidly thereon, a pair of driving shafts Y o 4two witnesses.y 8. In power transmission, the combination f armed sfatare groep of Shaagpmiiei tof thereon a pinion intermeshing with the gear,

eachy driving shaft having rotatably mounted thereon two groups ofL worms, suchgroups being spaced Vfrom each other, worm-wheels upon the opposite'ends'of the said group of shafts andl intermeshing with the worms, each driving shaft having a pair-of spaced integral Vcollars oppositely screw-threaded to cause opposing propulsion, uch collars being located between the groups of worms, a pair of nuts screwed towards each other upon the enlargements and into abutting relation, a pair of sleeves rotatably mounted upon the driving shaft and rigidly connectedv at their opposite ends to the groups of worms and at their adjacent ends to the nuts, the interiors of. the nuts being chambered to permit axial movement of the nuts and' sleeves relatively to the shaft, radial circumferential flanges uponthe adjacent ends of the nuts, an inwardly lianged annular rim enclosingthe flanges of each pair ofnuts, for the purpose of uniformlytransmitting the rotative power of the driving shafts through the trains of gears presented shafjlirst mentioned. v f, Y,

In: testimony whereof lafhave signed my naine tothis specification in the presence of rby the saidgreupsand common gear tothef lllit-nesses: v'V Y GORDON G. COOKE,

WILLIAM J. C; Hnwn'rsoN.

'HENRY'- n2 vnueHAN. Y 

